"He's over there! Get him!"

Map hacks are perhaps the most widely used hack since trainers in the original Diablo. They pose a problem in any game, and are notorious in Diablo II and especially other games like Half-Life: Counter-Strike. While map hacks aren't as much of an issue in Diablo II as in first-person shooters and real-time strategy games, they are still a widespread, controversial problem. Ultimately, most players will agree that using one is cheating as much as using any hack is.

There's more to map hacks than simply having an unfair advantage over other players in cooperative multi-player situations. The biggest problem and perhaps worst use of map hacks is for player killing. It is certainly significantly easier to PK someone when you have a map that shows you exactly where they are at any given time. Furthermore, when you have additional hacks at your fingertips, for such abuses as instant kills, it becomes a very simple process to hunt players down.

PlanetDiablo has a firm policy against any form of cheating, but we asked you readers to comment on map hacks for this edition of the mailbag. Read on to see the results.

Now, onto the feedback from this past week!

From: Mike
Subject: Map Hack Usage

I don't think map hacks are that bad. Sure, it may give a slight edge to the person using it as far as where to go, what's where and all that good stuff, but really, banning for using a map hack? Why can't Blizzard conjure up a server for those that wish to use [hacks]? Or allow BNet users the ability to use map hacks by checking off the hypothetical option right beside the option to password the game. So it might require a whole different ladder. So I have no clue how difficult that would be for them to set up. You shouldn't be black-listed for "blue collar" hacks like that. I feel they're doing a decent job of cracking down on cheaters and are really giving it some effort, but I think this is something they could be a wee bit more lenient with. Nerf themselves in a sense.

One problem with your intriguing idea is that once Blizzard condones map hacks for use on any of its servers, people will start using them on all of the servers. Additionally, the company would have to develop a map hack of its own due to its policies on using third party software; that's certainly not something it plans on doing anytime soon.

From: Modem
Subject: map hacks

People that use them feel it's not cheating... well... bottom line is that it IS cheating. If blizzard intended for people to see the entire map of every area, they would have included it in the game. [Good point!] It specifically says in the EULA that hacks aren't tolerated. Blizzard has told people over and over not to use hacks, and some idiots just don't listen. They were warned that they would be warned/banned if they did any sort of hack. Blizzard couldn't do a thing with Diablo about cheaters, because hackers didn't come to mind when creating diablo and battle.net, so the game was not designed to catch them. Diablo II, warcraft II (b.net edition) and warcraft III however WERE specifically designed to find and stop any sort of cheating in their games Anyone who uses any hack, no matter how big or small, deserves to get banned. Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.

The best policy against cheating is an absolute one; there's either no cheating or no end to it.

From: Bludy-Cro
Subject: Map Hacks: Are they ethical? Should Blizzard ban users?

Greetings And Salutations,

That being said i have a few thoughts on the Maphack matter. I do not use maphacks on the realms at all, I do not think that they are right unless ALL players can see the entire map and monsters. [Agreed.] On single player yes I will useone there but I only play single player for testing realm characters. [Huh?]

I do see some valid points of maphack users,

1. If this was real life a map has destination points on it already.
   [How about every single obstacle you occur? What a scary thought a real life Diablo would be.]
2. It does not hurt the realms as bad as dupes etc..

Also I agree with the majority of Battle.net users,

1. It is a hack plain and simple should be banned and not used.
2. It is unfair to other users that are 100% legit.
3. If you want to Maphack do it on single player where the only one that gets hurt is yourself. But the ultimate choice of to Maphack is up to the user him/herselves,

I think (WARNING: OPINION COMMING UP HERE) that Blizzard should incorperate something into the system like a legit maphack where as if you become a Matriarch/Patriarch or Guardian then you get a full light radius and reveal map scroll now it does not show the monsters themselves but it would be a nicer reward than a title sure enough being a Matriarch or Patriarch and Guardian is nice but hey it would remove alot of maphackers.

Now as for if they should ban or not I think that yes they should it is stated clearly in the EULA that NO 3rd party programs are to be used while being online on the realms but this is another problem that Blizzard will have to get around to. I would rather them fix the problems in the game rather than spend all their time dealing with maphackers but that is my opinion. [Cheers to that!]

Until I see you on the realms...

Fairness to other players remains a large issue with your idea. There's plenty of play time left for a character who has beaten Hell difficulty, so a slightly stripped down version of a map hack as a reward for beating the game wouldn't be much different that using it from the start.

Many players find it useful to have areas unmarked to show where they haven't explored, so if this was implemented I'd suggest it being an option rather than forced.

From: BLACK_DESTINY
Subject: NO MAPHACKS

Hmmm... did Blizzard give you a map with everything on it for Diablo2? NO!! They call it a maphack because thats exactly what it is. A Hack. Something not supposed to be in the game. And on a more technical note. You don't equip a map in Diablo or have one in your inventory or anything so how could you know the exact shape and formot and location of everything, even moving things, in your environment. WE DONT HAVE COMPUTERS OR SATELLITES OR GPS!!!! WE HAVE FROZEN ORB, TIGER STRIKE, AND HOLY FREEZE!!!! Now start playing by the rules. Blizz, dont ban people for their stupidity, least give em a warning first. Another email from BLACK_DESTINY

Blizzard has neither the resources nor the will to pamper its users with warnings if they cheat. Otherwise, good points!

From: Dylan Vasey
Subject: Unique armor database

I was looking through your unique armors and I noticed that two are missing. Their both based on Sacred Armor and are Templar's Might and Tyrael's Might. They are possibly the best armors in the game since Templar's Might has over 1700 defense. Just thought I'd inform you about that.

Thanks for your e-mail! Both those items are v1.10 uniques that will be featured in our upcoming v1.10 Items Database, which should be complete and available on the site soon.

From: Taurendil
Subject: Diablo II mods

A pretty popular mod not yet listed on your mod database is Nezeramontias. It doesn't have any fancy websites, and isn't featured on the Phrozen Keep, but quite a few people are playing and enjoying it. It's got modded items, monsters, areas, new graphics, cube recepies, uniques, sets, etc.. the works. And a very interesting skill system.

Thanks for your suggestion! We've added it to our Mods Database with the permission of its author.

From: -=[R/T]Deuce on Guard=-
Subject: Maphacking: Ethical?

Personally, I think it is.

Bliz says that it wants them gone to keep the realms "Safe and fun". Honestly, I had a lot more fun with D2 when I had my trusty maphack back in 1.09d. Safety? How does maphacking put anyones charachter or items at risk? [When combined with other hacks and put to use to hunt down other characters it becomes a big issue.]

Although "Fun" is subjective, in months of maphacking back in 1.09d I never once heard anyone complain about the maphack being unfair. It's a shortcut. [Not available to all players; hence, unfair.]

In games like starcraft, yes, there a maphack could do some real damage. But in D2, where players arent working against eachother (except for dueling, and the maphack dosent really affect that one way or the other), there is nothing to be lost by using a maphack. Especially now that they made the Durance of Hate 2 freaking HUGE.

I think Bliz ought to focus on the real problems. Bugfixing ought to be their top priority now. [Or perhaps Blizzard North developing its new project. *wink*] Maybe some rebalancing too, the bowazon got hit waaaay too hard with the nerfstick. Then take down the more serious hacks, the ones that really upset the game balance: Dupehacks, the mephbot and pindlebot, the Denial of Service attacks that hit battlenet from time to time.

I have to say Bliz, you sure screwed this one up big time. Everyone I've met has said that 1.09d was a lot more fun. Yeah, so the vicious hellspawn didn't have a fair chance in 1.09. So? It's the FUN that matters, not the fairness or the plausibility or the realism. Everyone I know, me included, is upset and disappointed with 1.10. The new items are good, yes, but everyone hates the nerfing of the bowazon, the anti-rushing stuff, and the CD-key bans for looking at the map. Not to mention the total nerfign of all the bosses' drops. Pindle's been nerfed, Thresh socket's been nerfed, Baal's been nerfed, Mephy's been nerfed....

What D2 really needs is 1.09d back. Just my $0.02.

You've explored some good and iffy points here. As far as your comments on v1.10, remember that Hell difficulty should be hellishly difficult and not just fun. Ultimately it does come down to how fun the game is, though.

From: Steve Remen
Subject: Map Hacks

I don't agree at all with map hacks. Games were originally created on the Atari too provide two things: 1. To provide a challanging game, and 2. Fun! [Atari wasn't the first game platform, but agreed.]

Diablo 2 is not complicated, you simply run around walls until you get into the next area, complete the task, and repeat. [Wrong. There's tons of strategy involved, even besides character builds.] Map hacking takes that right out, instead of looking you just say "it's their". [There?] The only challange now is getting to it, but if you have teleport... Challange = Fun, games that are too easy are often not played for too long, games that are too hard get deleted out of frustration. Map hacks takes out the whole point of Diablo! [Hear, hear!]

Banning players may be a little harsh, perhaps temporary bans or warnings should be administered by Bnet first. But that point is that Map Hacks are wrong, and at this time I would like too say something... SHUT UP DIABLO MAGIC NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR HACKS!!! SO STOP SPAMMING AND !#$%!%$#%!.

Thank you.

Spambots getting to you, eh?

As indicated before, Blizzard doesn't have the time nor extra employees to give out warnings and then bans. It's conceivable that they could create an automated system to detect, warn, and ban but they must concentrate on their current projects and the larger bugs, exploits, and hacks.

From: CM CyberSurf Pte Ltd
Subject: map hack

1. Its good for those high level character going for mf or pk using the map-hack.

2. What's the point of obtaining high level without good proper items on each character? Map hack is the most efficient & ethical way of game play for high level character, rather than duping or hacking into ppls account to obtain rare items.

Since when are the characters bestowed with radaric powers? Certainly using map hacks for PKing is the largest problem.

"Please sir, could I have some more MF?"

That's a wrap for this week, folks! Be sure to send in your comments, questions, and other notes of interest regarding next week's topic. Feel free to ask or comment about other topics, too!